Active and Passive Voice: Understanding the Difference
The voice of a verb tells us whether the subject of the sentence performs the action (active voice) or is acted upon (passive voice).
Active Voice:
* Subject performs the action.
* Emphasizes the actor.
* Typically clearer and more direct.
Example:
* Active: The dog chased the ball. (The dog is the actor, performing the action of chasing.)
Passive Voice:
* Subject is acted upon.
* Emphasizes the action or the receiver of the action.
* Can be less direct and sometimes sound awkward.
Example:
* Passive: The ball was chased by the dog. (The ball is the subject, being acted upon. The action is highlighted, not the dog.)
How to Change from Active to Passive:
1. Make the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence.
2. Add a form of the verb "be" (is, was, are, were, etc.) to the past participle of the main verb.
3. Add "by" and the original subject (the actor) if you want to mention it.
Example:
* Active: The artist painted the portrait.
* Passive: The portrait was painted by the artist.
When to Use Passive Voice:
* When the action is more important than the actor.
* When the actor is unknown or unimportant.
* When you want to avoid assigning blame or responsibility.
Example:
* "The window was broken." (The actor is unknown)
* "The patient was treated." (Focus is on the treatment, not the doctor.)
Important Note: While passive voice has its uses, overuse can make writing sound clunky and less engaging. In general, use active voice as often as possible for clear and concise communication.